😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $294 in Antsirabe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $471 in Antsirabe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $648 in Antsirabe.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 399% more expensive than Antsirabe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Antsirabe is 78% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$1.01MGA 4,250
1204.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$14.27MGA 59.8K
277.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$4.33MGA 18.1K
117.55%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$1.35MGA 5,652
162.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$0.81MGA 3,395
100.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.53MGA 2,240
109.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$1.51MGA 6,322
106.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$0.41MGA 1,722
314.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$0.42MGA 1,753
547.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$0.58MGA 2,411
229.31%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$0.79MGA 3,304
221.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$7.59MGA 31.8K
32.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$3.73MGA 15.6K
116.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$4.08MGA 17.1K
184.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$0.69MGA 2,882
330.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$0.28MGA 1,180
546.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$0.64MGA 2,680
214.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$0.35MGA 1,449
480.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$0.21MGA 879
909.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$0.43MGA 1,798
427.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$0.09MGA 364
1455.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.43MGA 1,796
162.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
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Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
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Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
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Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
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🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.09MGA 395
322.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
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Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
-
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Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
-
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Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
-
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Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
-
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Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
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Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
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🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$37.91MGA 159.0K
7.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
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Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$62.2MGA 260.9K
-51.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$16.58MGA 69.5K
213.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
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Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
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International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
-
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Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
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Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$67.9MGA 284.6K
1405.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$44.67MGA 187.3K
1312.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$218MGA 914.9K
878.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$155MGA 650.3K
701.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
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Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
-
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20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Antsirabe: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $67.9 in Antsirabe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $14.00 in Antsirabe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $84.0 per month, with Antsirabe cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mexico City vs Antsirabe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antsirabe cheaper than Mexico City?
Antsirabe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 399% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,201 in Mexico City and $441 in Antsirabe to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Antsirabe?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $67.9 in Antsirabe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and Antsirabe?
Supermarket bills run roughly 244% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or Antsirabe?
Dining out is cheaper in Antsirabe – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Antsirabe?
At $294 in Antsirabe versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Antsirabe but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Antsirabe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Antsirabe more family-friendly?
For families, Antsirabe is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Antsirabe?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Antsirabe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Antsirabe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 399% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared